Kids have chance to experience pioneer days

July 09, 2006|KAREN RALLO

BRISTOL -- Today, youngsters can actually rub an Indian fossil or play with wooden pioneer toys when Kids Day takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Elkhart County Historical Museum, 304 W. Vistula Road. "We thought it would be nice if kids could have an activity rather than just coming out and looking at things," museum interpretation coordinator Gary Richards says. "Our tour guide will do a one-room school session, and kids can learn how they did their studies years ago. They also had recess back then, so we'll have pioneer games like kids played with in the one-room school days." Children will learn about pioneer life through additional hands-on activities, such as practicing penmanship by using a goose quill pen and stylus or nib pen, which eventually replaced the feather type, and is a little more durable, but not quite a Bic pen, Richards says. In addition, there will be a variety of local rocks provided by Jim Stults for children to touch and examine, model trains will operate and a uniformed Revolutionary War officer, Terry Trimmer, will be on hand to tell stories about colonial militia. "He may even try to draft a few people for the Revolutionary War," Richards says and laughs. The museum also will be open for touring. To learn more about this family event, call (574) 848-4322. No admission will be charged, but donations will be accepted. Additional activities for children include:

Crocodile Rock Children ages 3 through kindergarten (accompanied by an adult) can listen to stories, play games and make a craft; 10:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Tuesday; Mishawaka Library, 209 Lincoln Way W., Mishawaka; (574) 259-5277.

Culver Story Time Children with a parent will hear "Butterfly House" by Eve Bunting and make a craft; 9:30 a.m. Wednesday or 1:30 p.m. Thursday; Culver Library, 107 N. Main St., Culver; (574) 842-2941.